In the efficient and direct layout on Michaud Made’s elegantly simple site, guitarists will find little more than photos of guitars and a brief summary of Joel Michaud himself to guide them through the page. It’s free of loud text and abundant stats and instead, focuses on gorgeous guitars shot in decadent and beautiful lighting. The reason for that is simple; when you’re a Michaud Made guitar, your sound speaks for itself.
The handcrafted guitars and choices like collaborating with local jewelers are all brushstrokes in the canvas that is his renowned reputation for design and acoustics. For all this, today we’re proud to celebrate the exceptional work of Joel Michaud and Michaud Made in this edition of TopShelf Lutiers.
Michaud On Paper
Joel Michaud, as far as the internet is concerned, is a bit of an enigma. His Instagram and online presence are all simply a pipeline to his website, which delicately ferries you along the breathtaking series of product photos, which are shot like noir portraits and sumptuous models. The reason for the brevity is simple – Michaud Made guitars are a powerhouse beyond words.
What Joel does highlight on his site are key areas of focus in his instruments. Like the Michaud Bevel, what Joel describes as “a new take on the arm bevel originated by William Laskin.” This unique design meets at two different end terminations to provide what he calls visual unity. Playability is still a key factor in Michaud’s designs and for that, their high comfort focus has come to be a proud claim to fame. Additionally, their so-called Timbre Specific Bracing ensures your wood is carefully selected and tailored to the sound you’re pursuing. Add to this Michaud’s dedication to strategic tonewood, and you can be sure your guitar is customized directly to meet your auditory needs. Double laminated sides serve to ensure added strength while a specifically Sculpted Bridge utilizes low weight and high strength in the wings for a very efficient tone delivery. Finally, his distinctive styles of cutaways offer ergonomic access to the upper frets (and interesting flair to boot).
The Michaud Aesthetic and Sound
The feel of Michaud Made guitars is like nothing else on the market. For how soft-spoken the company is in its own regard, the guitar community raves about the incredible prowess of this product. Much of what Michaud Made guitars are revered for seems to reverberate along similar interests. For starters, Michaud guitars are noted for their signature clarity and balance. The note separation and balance across strings create strong trebles which make them ideal for fingerstyle guitar.
In addition to the sound, Joel has also been celebrated for the gorgeous look of his work. Much of that can, in part, be attributed to his interest in collaboration with jewelry and local artisans. Joel leans on the expertise of these craftspeople to set jewelry, so that beauty and function are one and the same for every instrument. Finally, Joel’s dedication to clean, simple, centered design values ensure that sound and specificity are refined to a dazzling shine in every guitar he produces.
Michaud Made Well
Joel Michaud is a humble but charismatic guitar maker who thinks it best to let the sound of his guitars do the talking for him. So whether it’s collaborating with local jewelers, coordinating with different wood and materials vendors, or sampling from all styles and designs to perfect his incredible creations, Joel’s skills are well-established in the guitar world, and a luthier worthy of your time and your attention.
For your own custom Michaud Made Guitar, place an order here.
And to custom fit a case to such a precious instrument, visit our guitar case selection here.
